Why quotes vary so much
A website is not a product with a shelf price. It is a body of work whose size depends on the goal. A simple one-page site for a workshop in Samarkand and an online store with a catalogue, Click and Payme checkout and stock synchronisation are different projects, even though both get called a website. A price for a website in general tells you almost nothing; only quotes with the same scope can be compared.
The second factor is who does the work. A freelancer, a small studio and a full-service agency divide responsibility differently. In one case a single person designs, codes and tests. In another, a team includes a project manager and a separate tester. That affects the price, and it also decides what happens when something breaks six months after launch.
What the price is made of
Break almost any estimate into parts and the same blocks appear. The more blocks there are, and the deeper each one goes, the higher the total.
- Research and structure: understanding the business, audience and competitors, then planning the pages.
- Design: an adapted template or a unique layout built around your brand, including mobile screens.
- Development: a site builder, an existing CMS or custom code, depending on how complex the features are.
- Content: copywriting, photography and versions in Uzbek and Russian, sometimes English.
- Integrations: online payments, a CRM, Telegram alerts for new leads, analytics counters.
- Basic SEO: page structure, headings, loading speed, sitemap.
- Testing and launch: checking forms, payments and display across devices.
Site type and its effect on the budget
A landing page is the most compact format: one page built for one action, such as requesting a service. A company website has several sections, a portfolio, a blog and a contact page with a map. An online store is the most labour-intensive, with a catalogue, cart, payment, delivery options and an admin panel for managers. Services with user accounts and custom logic form a separate category; that is closer to building a product and is estimated differently.
For a small business outside Tashkent, a landing page or a compact site working alongside Telegram and Instagram is often enough at the start. If sales run through a catalogue of hundreds of items, though, plan for a proper store from day one. Migrating away from a stripped-down solution usually costs more than starting correctly.
Costs people forget to include
A website is not a one-off purchase, so budget for the first year rather than only launch day. Beyond development itself, these items usually appear:
- Domain and hosting, which renew regularly.
- A security certificate and backups.
- Maintenance: updates, bug fixes and small edits.
- Content production if you do not have your own texts and photos.
- Advertising or SEO after launch, because a site with no traffic brings no enquiries.
- Improvements after the first months, once it is clear what actually works.
Site builder, freelancer or agency
A site builder is cheaper at the start and good for testing an idea, but it hits limits on integrations, speed and SEO fairly quickly. A freelancer suits clear, standard tasks as long as there is a contract and you keep every access credential. An agency usually costs more, yet covers design, development, analytics and promotion in one place. Choose by the task, and by how much time you are willing to spend managing the project yourself.
How to compare quotes and avoid overpaying
The cheapest offer is rarely the best value if every edit after launch is billed separately, and a high price does not guarantee quality either. A short checklist of questions works with any contractor:
- Is the estimate split into stages rather than a single line?
- What exactly is included: design, mobile version, two languages, SEO basics?
- Who owns the source files, the domain and the accounts?
- What are the warranty and support terms after handover?
- How will results be measured: leads, calls, orders?
- Can you open live projects they built, not just portfolio screenshots?
Where to start
Before asking for a price, answer three questions: what should a visitor do on the site, where will visitors come from (search, Instagram, ads or OLX), and how will you know the site pays for itself. With those answers, any estimate becomes far easier to read.
At markdev we build websites turnkey, from structure and design to analytics setup, and we estimate each project against its goals rather than a template price list. If you want to discuss your project and get a clear calculation, send us a request and we will work out which format fits your business.
FAQ
Why can't an agency name an exact price straight away?
The cost depends on site type, number of pages, design, features and integrations. Two requests that both say "website" can differ many times over in effort, so a fair estimate follows once the task is clarified.
Is a site builder cheaper than custom development?
At the start, usually yes. But builders have limits on integrations, speed and SEO, and a growing business may need to migrate later. It is a reasonable way to test an idea; for the long term, check how much room it leaves.
Does promotion come with the cost of building a website?
Usually not. Development includes basic SEO preparation, while bringing visitors through ads, SEO or social media is paid separately. Confirm this in the estimate before you sign.
What should I prepare for a more accurate estimate?
Describe the goal of the site, give examples of sites you like, list the sections or products, name the integrations you need such as Click, Payme or Telegram, and say whether you already have texts and photos. The clearer the brief, the closer the estimate.
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